Plenty of off-season news in District 6-2A

Football coaches in District 6-2A are welcoming the start of this season with open arms. After such a newsy off-season, they're ready for the focus to fall between the Friday night lights.

They prefer uneventful off-seasons. Football coaches like it when players lift weights and improve agility in the off-season program. When players develop complementary skills and keep their competitive edge by participating in other sports.

Coaches like it when players make good grades in the classroom, stay out of trouble and get home at a decent hour. They like it when their contracts aren't up for renewal, no assistant coaches leave and 15 starters return from last year's winning team.

District 6-2A didn't enjoy such an off-season. Some teams made significant news, much of it off the field.

Canadian led the way, with Ronny Williams' stormy two-year reign as head coach coming to an end in July. Williams was voted out by the school board in February, then voted back in a week later.

Then in June, Williams was reassigned for issues unrelated to the problems in February. It took until July 7 for Williams' appeal to be heard and denied by the school board.

Kyle Lynch, who coached the Wildcats to a district championship in 2000 but had since moved to the middle school principal's position, was named to succeed Williams. Lynch will be both principal and coach this fall.

Meanwhile this summer, Canadian running back Auston English, who rushed for 1,702 yards last year as a sophomore, fell 104 feet in a Colorado mountain-climbing accident. Incredibly, English survived the fall, suffered no broken bones and returned to practice earlier this week. His first game action could come next week against River Road.

Panhandle's off-season began with three starters - quarterback Brock Sherwood and receivers Sy Slover and Caleb Coffman - undergoing knee surgery. All made full recoveries.

The Panthers, the unanimous district favorite, weren't as fortunate with their linemen. Victor Perez, a two-way all-district linemen who at times last year dominated games defensively, and Chris Cordell, a returning starter, entered the summer in limbo because of off-field issues.

Perez eventually was let go, and Cordell decided the punishment work to rejoin the team wasn't worth it. Scott Nichols, an unsung hard-working senior, had emerged to take one of the vacant line positions, but last week, he was lost for the season with a knee injury.

The Panthers, who once enjoyed solid depth in the line, have been stripped to the point that Phillip Purcell, the third-team quarterback, has been moved to the line. And there are whispers - only whispers so far - that if things get worse, Slover might move to the line. He weighs 210 pounds and was a varsity lineman for two seasons before blossoming into a 50-catch receiver last year.

Even with a depleted line, expectations were high in Panhandle and became even higher after the Panthers scored seven touchdowns in a scrimmage against Friona.

In Spearman, springtime rumors swirled that Ric Smith, having completed his 11th season as the Lynx head coach and his 21st overall with the program, was retiring. Smith has an 87-37 record and seven playoff appearances with the Lynx.

Apparently, Smith, who had coached for 32 years, could make more money by retiring than by continuing to coach at his present salary. But Spearman, like most other school districts in the state, is looking for ways to cut costs instead of giving out raises.

Smith eventually decided to return for his 12th season. He faces the biggest rebuilding challenge of his career, with only three returning starters from last year's 7-3 team.

Highland Park's stadium underwent a $197,000 renovation that included a new dirt base and Bermuda grass for the field, new grandstands and a press box for the home side as well as a new parking lot.

The project is expected to be finished by Sept. 19, when the Hornets host Gruver for homecoming.

On the field, coach Bryan Welps made a couple of bold moves in an attempt to elevate the Hornets from competitive to contenders. First, two-year starting quarterback Zack Young, a dangerous running threat, was moved to fullback and replaced under center by Robert Lamberson, a better passer. Secondly, R.J. Soleyjacks, who has 315 career tackles at linebacker, was moved to safety to help a lagging pass defense.

Both moves will get a good test Saturday, when the Hornets open against Nazareth, a perennial Class 1A playoff entry.

Boys Ranch, which has lost 35 straight district games, also lost its two leading receivers and one of its top rushers during the off-season. They didn't graduate; they just decided to leave the ranch. It was a setback for upbeat coach Cokey Wilson, who had the Roughriders playing competitively in half their district games last year.

So whether it's because they want to put events of the off-season behind them, they're anxious to see their off-season changes in a real game - or both - District 6-2A coaches are ready for the games to begin.

Mike Lee, assistant sports editor of the Globe-News, can be reached at (806) 345-3313 or at mlee@amarillonet.com